VIJAYAWADA: Minister for Mines and Geology and Excise Kollu Ravindra pledged that all aspects of the ‘liquor scam’ from the previous YSRC regime will be thoroughly investigated and exposed. He stated that the irregularities spanned from the allotment of distilleries to the sale of liquor.
During a session in the AP Legislative Assembly on Friday, Kollu highlighted that the government had already unveiled the liquor sales irregularities over the past five years through a white paper. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced plans to conduct a probe by the CB-CID and possibly by the Enforcement Directorate if necessary, into the malpractices that occurred under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration.
Kollu revealed that preliminary findings suggest irregularities worth Rs 19,000 crore in the liquor scam. He criticized the previous YSRC government for manipulating the liquor market, claiming it took advantage of consumers by discontinuing popular brands and pushing substandard products, which led to widespread renal and liver diseases and numerous fatalities.
The Minister also accused the YSRC regime of raising beer prices, closing down beverage units that supplied popular brands, and allowing widespread availability of ganja, which he said contributed to a rise in youth drug abuse and crime. 
He further alleged that, contrary to their pre-election promises of total prohibition, the YSRC government continued to control liquor sales after coming to power. Kollu specifically blamed YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the deaths of 20 people in Jangareddygudem due to spurious liquor and assured that an inquiry will be conducted into these issues.